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Hardware Specifications and Optional DRAC III Hardware Installation

Dell™ Remote Access Controller Installation and Setup Guide

  Hardware Specifications

  Replacing a Battery on a DRAC III

  Installing Optional DRAC III Hardware


This section provides information on the hardware attributes and characteristics of the RACs. It also includes information on replacing DRAC III battery packs and installing optional DRAC III hardware such as a PCMCIA modem, external power adapter, and cables.

Before removing or installing any system component, see the System Information document included with your system for important safety instructions.

Hardware Specifications

ERA/O Power Requirements

System power:

+2.5 V at 2 A maximum

DRAC III Power Requirements

System power (PCI slot only):

+5 V at 2 A maximum

External AC power adapter capacity:

+6 V at 2.5 A maximum

Battery backup capacity:

1400 mAh (30 minutes of operation)

DRAC III Power Supply Specifications

DRAC III PCI Interface

The DRAC III is compliant with PCI Local Bus Specification 2.1. Table A-1 provides the identification values for the card.

Table A-1. Identification Values 

Item

Function

Value

Subsystem device ID

0

1

2

0x0007

0x0008

0x0009

Subsystem vendor ID

 

0x1028

Class code

 

088000 (generic system peripheral)

DRAC III Connectors

The DRAC III connectors are summarized in Table A-2 and illustrated in Figure A-1.

Table A-2. Connectors 

Connector

Type

VT-100 serial

10-pin connector

ICMB

6-pin connector

Hobbes

20-pin connector

IPMB

3-pin connector

Battery

2-pin connector

PCMCIA

68-pin connector

NIC

RJ-45 connector

Figure A-1. DRAC III Connectors

Replacing a Battery on a DRAC III

The following sections describe the replacement of the DRAC III battery, including removing and installing the battery pack.

Before removing or installing any system component, see the System Information document included with your system for important safety instructions.

Removing the Battery Pack

  1. Turn off the system and all attached external peripheral devices.

  2. Disconnect the system and its peripherals from power sources, and any telephone or telecommunication lines from the system.

  3. Remove the system cover according to the instructions in your system's Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.

  4. Touch an unpainted metal surface at the back of the system chassis before touching anything inside the system.

  5. Remove the DRAC III from its slot.

  6. Disconnect the battery wire harness from the DRAC III.

  7. Remove the two screws from the battery housing.

  8. Squeeze the sides of the battery to release locking clips and remove.

Installing a New Battery Pack

  1. Insert locking clips into slots in the card, ensuring that the wire harness is toward the top of the card.

  2. Attach the battery pack to the card using the two screws.

  3. Connect the battery wire harness to the header.

  4. Insert the DRAC III into the same slot from which it was removed and reattach connectors or cables.

  5. Replace and secure the system cover.

  6. Reconnect the system and all associated external peripheral devices to power sources and turn them on.

Installing Optional DRAC III Hardware

The following sections provide procedures for installing DRAC III optional hardware, including: PCMCIA modem, external power adapter, VT-100 cable, and IPMB cable.

Before removing or installing any system component, see the System Information document included with your system for important safety instructions.

Installing a PCMCIA Modem

To install an optional PCMCIA modem, perform the following steps.

CAUTION: The optional PCMCIA modem cannot be installed on the DRAC III while the DRAC III is turned on. To install the optional modem, you must first turn off the system, disconnect the external power adapter from the DRAC III, and remove the DRAC III from the system. These precautions ensure that the integrated battery is not providing power to the DRAC III circuitry. If the DRAC III has been using battery power, it continues to do so for approximately 15 seconds after the DRAC III is removed from its PCI slot.
  1. Turn off the system and all attached external peripheral devices.

  2. Disconnect the system and its peripherals from power sources, and disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the system.

  3. Remove the system cover according to the instructions in your system's Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.

  4. Touch an unpainted metal surface at the back of the system chassis before touching anything inside the system.

  5. Remove the DRAC III from its slot.

  6. Install the modem card into the PCMCIA socket in the DRAC III PCI bracket (see Figure 2-1). Press firmly to seat the modem card in the socket.

  7. Connect the modem cable to a phone jack.

  8. Insert the DRAC III into the same slot from which it was removed, and reattach connectors or cables.

  9. Replace and secure the system cover.

  10. Reconnect the system and all associated external peripheral devices to power sources and turn them on.

Installing an External Power Adapter

While the DRAC III does not require an external power adapter, using one will allow the DRAC III to remain operational when the system is off, and will extend the DRAC III power beyond the 30-minute limit of the lithium ion battery pack. For power supply specifications, see "DRAC III Power Requirements."

To install the external power adapter, perform the following steps:

  1. Connect the external power adapter to a UPS or available AC power receptacle (a UPS is recommended for greater power coverage).

  2. Connect the power jack to the 6-volt DC external power-input connector on the DRAC III PCI bracket (see Figure 2-1).

Installing a VT-100 Cable

For information on installing your optional VT-100 cable, see the Information Update that is included in your VT-100 serial cable kit.

Installing the IPMB Cable

The DRAC III is equipped with a 3-pin cable that allows access to the system's IPMB on 64-bit systems only. The IPMB provides remote monitoring, log in, and recovery control functions independent of the main processors, BIOS, and operating system. The IPMB is available for remote monitoring even when the system is turned off.

NOTICE: The IPMB cable must first be attached to the DRAC III before connecting it to the system.
NOTE: If you are unsure if your system is equipped with a 3-pin IPMB connector, see your system documentation before proceeding with the installation.

To install the IPMB cable, perform the following steps:

  1. Turn off the system and all attached external peripheral devices.

  2. Disconnect the system and its peripherals from power sources, and any telephone or telecommunication lines from the system.

  3. Remove the system cover according to the instructions in your system's Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.

  4. Touch an unpainted metal surface at the back of the system chassis before touching anything inside the system.

  5. Connect the IPMB cable to the 3-pin yellow connector on the DRAC III (see Figure A-1).

  6. Connect the other end of the IPMB cable to the system's 3-pin connector.

  7. Replace and secure the system cover.

  8. Reconnect the system and all associated external peripheral devices to their AC power sources and turn them on.

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